NAPP conference will focus on digital marketplace

By Staff -- Purchasing, 8/24/2000

The National Association of Procurement Professionals plans to focus on the impact of the rapidly expanding digital marketplace on the purchasing and accounts-payable functions at its upcoming conference.

The association plans to hold its 2001 conference Jan. 14-17 at the Marco Island Hilton, Marco Island, Fla. It is expected to feature:

• Major corporations' actual experience with implementing e-commerce systems and process improvements,

• A technology trade fair that will feature leading-edge e-procurement products and services, and

• Networking and benchmarking opportunities.

Scheduled to kick off the 2001 conference is Kerry Lamson, senior vice president of marketplace solutions, PeopleSoft Inc., with a keynote address, "The Internet Does Not Discriminate."

An integral part of the conference is the technology fair, which is limited to 20 suppliers who are selected for their emerging technologies and innovative services. Among those who exhibited at the 2000 conference are: Ariba, Concur Technologies, Corporate Express, FreeMarkets.com, Intelisys, SeraNova, Software House International and TPN Register.

More than 200 procurement and accounts-payable professionals attended the 2000 conference held in April in Marco Island (PUR: May 18, 2000; p. 154). Speakers included: Julie Ferguson, corporate procurement systems manager, Nike Corp.; Ted Ramstad, director, global supply management, Perot Systems; Greg Brandyberry, director of worldwide purchasing support, SmithKline Beecham; Fonnie Standaert, corporate buyer, Hoffman-La Roche; and Alan Daniel, procurement tools manager, Texas Instruments.

napp is an organization dedicated to providing procurement professionals with an annual forum for the exchange of new and innovative ideas for improving the procurement function. Its first conference, "New Horizons," in 1993 was developed out of a conviction that a conference should be informative, practical and affordable. Conference officers (Dave Elko of SmithKline Beecham, Sal Grillo of Merrill Lynch, Larry Kreider of Fleming Logistics, and Barbara Kuryea of Kuryea of Barbara R. Kuryea Consulting) saw a need for a conference that addressed the entire procurement process and the interaction of purchasing, accounts payable and information technology.

Officers also saw a need for a conference that presents firsthand experiences for purchasing and payables professionals as well as leading-edge technology and products and services. And, perhaps most important, they also wanted to create an informal but professional atmosphere that encourages people-to-people interaction and networking.

The conference is certified by the National Association of Purchasing Management for C.P.M. points.

napp is an independent organization and maintains its autonomy by declining corporate sponsorship and alliances.

For information on the conference, visit the group's Web site at www.nappconference.com or contact Kuryea at (609) 391-1352.